UK 'very close' to developing swine flu vaccine

UK scientists are "very close" to developing a vaccine for swine flu, Health Secretary Alan Johnson told MPs today.

He said he hoped to make an announcement to Parliament about developments in a debate on swine flu on Thursday.

Last week it was revealed Health Protection Agency (HPA) scientists have worked out the genetic fingerprint of the virus, which will help understand how it operates and to identify the parts that can be used to manufacture a vaccine.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: "British scientists at the Health Protection Agency in Colindale have identified the strain, what's called the isolate."

This information was passed to the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) in Potter's Bar. where they "actually now do the work of producing a vaccine".

Mr Johnson said: "That work has now been completed, the next stage is what I hope to be able to tell Parliament about on Thursday.

"Efforts are going on in this country and abroad to ensure that we get a vaccine developed as quickly as possible.

Of course, the time it will take to manufacture and produce it will be at least five to six months, but ... the first step has been taken, and we have actually identified the isolate.

"The next stage, to get the vaccine from that, I think is very close."